2nd Edition

Psychiatry in Transition

By John Lofland Copyright 1994

    When the first edition of Psychiatry in Transition came out, Dr. Gene Usdin wrote that "to read Marmor's papers is to read not only psychiatric history, but also where that history will be in the next decade." That next decade has happened, and Marmor's papers remain a beacon of professional endeavor. This second edition includes a final chapter on "Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy," in which the historical background of brief psychotherapy, focusing on the contributions of Freud, Ferenczi, Rand, and Alexander, is examined and synthesized.

    Throughout, certain basic themes stand out. First is the necessity for building upon a solid foundation of scientific thought, coupled with a readiness to change theories that do not fit with established facts. Second, Marmor offers a systems theory to replace simplistic, unitary, or linear theories. Third, he presents some common denominators for illuminating the divergent views that characterize contemporary psychiatric theory and practice. The whole is linked by a deep concern with betterment of the human predicament.

    Marmor demonstrates that causation in psychiatry can be optimally understood in terms of multiple interacting variables rather than as a response to unitary factors. He foreshadows and predicts developments that are now current in contemporary psychiatric practice, such as the relationship between neurochemistry and behavior, and group therapy with dynamic psychotherapy. He also deals with the importance of cultural and socioeconomic factors in individual personality development. The work concludes with a series of chapters on interethnic hostility, nationalism, and urban violence.

    Marmor's work clarifies the nature of the psychoanalytic process by liberating it from obscurantism and jargon. This book points the way toward unraveling some of the cognitive dissonance in this area. As Leon Eisenberg observed, this is "an admirable vade mecum of dynamic psychiatry both for residents in training and clinicians in practice."

    PART I: GENERAL PSYCHIATRY 1. The Role of Instinct in Human Behavior 2. Toward an Integrative Conception of Mental Disorder (with E. Pumpian-Mindlin) 3. Some Observations on Superstition in Contemporary Life 4. The Individual, the Family and the Community 5. The Cancer Patient and His Family 6. The Crisis of Middle Age 7. Normal and Deviant Sexual Behavior PART II: PSYCHOANALYSIS 8. The Theory and Practice of Psychoanalysis 9. Psychoanalysis and Dialectical Materialism 10. Some Considerations Concerning Orgasm in the Female 11. Orality in the Hysterical Personality 12. The Psychodynamics of Realistic Worry 13. Some Comments on Ego Psychology 14. Psychoanalysis and Psychiatric Practice 15. Psychoanalytic Therapy as an Educational Process 16. Psychoanalytic Therapy and Theories of Learning 17. Psychoanalysis at the Crossroads 18. Changing Patterns of Femininity: Psychoanalytic Implications 19. New Directions in Psychoanalytic Theory and Therapy 20. Limitations of Free Association PART III: PSYCHOTHERAPY 21. The Feeling of Superiority: An Occupational Hazard in the Practice of Psychotherapy 22. The Doctor-Patient Relationship in Psychotherapy 23. The Nature of the Psychotherapeutic Process 24. Dynamic Psychotherapy and Behavior Therapy: Are They Irreconcilable ? 25. Sexual Acting-Out in Psychotherapy 26. Changing Trends in Psychotherapy PART IV: SOCIAL PSYCHIATRY 27. Psychodynamics of Group Opposition to Health Programs (with Bernard & Ottenberg) 28. The Psychology of Man in a Warless World 29. Nationalism, Internationalism, and Emotional Maturity 30. The Psychodynamics of Political Extremism 31. Some Psychosocial Aspects of Contemporary Urban Violence 32. Psychiatry and the Future of Man 33. Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy

    Biography

    Judd Marmor